The CLAT exam demands a systematic study plan, strategic problem solving, and being well versed in the syllabus. Browse through some of the most common mistakes to avoid while preparing for CLAT in order to perform efficiently during the exam.

The Common Law Admission Test or CLAT is conducted every year for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs offered by 22 National Law Universities in India. Various private colleges also accept CLAT scores for the selection of law candidates. Also, it is not uncommon to see Public Sector Undertakings like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) recruiting eligible candidates on the basis of their CLAT scores to handle the legal matters of their companies. Now, the importance of the exam definitely guarantees strategic preparation to crack the CLAT exam. In this blog, we will look at some of the most common mistakes that students make while preparing for this exam.

Common mistakes to avoid while preparing for the CLAT exam

Since the exam is conducted for admission of students to some of the most prestigious law colleges in India, candidates are expected to show an exceptional level of aptitude and reasoning skills. This makes it very important to prepare for the exam in the most efficient way possible, avoiding mistakes as much as possible.

But given that it is human nature to make mistakes, most of us aim to observe and learn as much as possible from others. As the famous Eleanor Rosevelt quote says, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” So, let us discuss some of the most common mistakes to be avoided while preparing for CLAT.

Also Read: HOW TO PREPARE FOR CLAT LOGICAL REASONING SECTION

Not attempting enough mock tests

This is one of the most common mistakes that students make without realizing how much it affects their overall performance. Solving a CLAT paper or CLAT online mock test requires good time management skills, speed, and accuracy. The only thing that can help a student develop speed and accuracy is practice. And there is no better way than by giving multiple mock tests. Mock tests help one to gain the necessary experience in understanding which questions to skip or come back and when to change topics. It also helps one to figure out how to deal with the stress and anxiety that comes with time-bound exams like CLAT.

Now, it is also important to find out the ideal time to take these mock tests. However, it is definitely a wise idea to attempt a few sections and topic-wise tests along with weekly full-length mock tests, especially focusing on those during the last few months. They will help you to identify the strong and weak topics so that you can work more on them and have enough confidence to get through the paper.

Solving the questions before understanding the concepts properly

Some students try to save time by jumping to direct questions without going through the theory properly even once. While it may seem beneficial at the time, it is one of the worst mistakes that a student appearing for CLAT can make. A slight variation in the questions can confuse and worry these students. It is important that students understand that it is the theory that needs to be understood, and the questions are only meant to further increase your level of knowledge and understanding of the theory, and not vice versa. So, it is highly advised to go through the theory properly first, clear all the doubts with the help of your friends and teachers, and only then move on to the questions.

Attempting the paper without reading the whole question

Students can skip reading parts of the questions and solve the question using only some of the information. The worst part is that the author of the question is already aware of this strategy and has prepared the options accordingly to easily trap the students. On the other hand, student confidently gives the wrong answer and lose marks to save some time. So, it is advised that students should read all the questions very carefully before solving them.

Also Read: CLAT 2022 Preparation Tips | How To Prepare For CLAT Exam 2022

Strategically not solving the paper

It is quite likely that the paper may start with very difficult questions or may include many difficult questions. This is done to check whether the student can deal with the problem under stress. So, if one simply solves the question paper in the order of questions without skipping tricky questions or changing the sections as and when required, it is possible that the student may get frustrated and not be able to attempt other questions with the same enthusiasm. It is possible. Hence, it is recommended for the students to find out which section is their strong suit through mocks and the sequence of attempting those sections which work best for them.

Not planning the last month before the exam

We would advise you to plan your last month and set goals at regular intervals for a week or a day. Making a list of topics not only helps you stay organized but also ensures that you do not miss out on any important topic. Planning everything also helps to clear your mind because everything seems orderly and organized in front of you, so you don’t have to keep track of everything with your mind. If you prepare and decide on topics every day, you can take it easy during the last few days before the exam and will not need to overload your brain with too much information in a relatively short amount of time.

Not going through general and current affairs on a regular basis

Since there is no fixed or defined syllabus for this section of the paper in the exam, you must read newspapers and magazines regularly. In fact, it would be great if you could make it a habit to read newspapers at fixed times every day, be it early morning, evening or night. All the questions you know from the current affairs section work like bonus questions as you have to spend very little time to solve these questions. In addition to newspapers, there are many other online resources you can use to expand your knowledge on stable and current legal issues. Check out The Essential GK and Current Affairs Checklist to discover some good platforms and resources. You can Join CLAT 2022 coaching for CLAT preparation.

not spending enough time reading

Reading is an integral part of CLAT exam preparation. Students will have to read passages not only for the English language but also for Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning sections. Now, the only way to improve your reading speed, and analytical and comprehensive skills are to make reading a part of your daily routine. Read what you like, whether it’s a piece of fiction, or something instructive. Slowly but steadily, you will see an improvement in your reading speed as well as vocabulary and the English language in general. Practice some comprehension and work more on your weak areas to assess the type of questions asked.

Also Read: How To CLAT Preparation In 24 Months

not taking proper care of health

It is very important for a student to maintain good health so that he/she can appear for the exam in the most efficient manner and concentrate completely on the paper. Thus, you should get at least 7-8 hours of sleep and maintain a proper sleep schedule. It is always considered beneficial for a student to go to bed early and get up early. Take care of your diet and include milk, dry fruits, and fruits in your daily diet. It is very important for you to maintain an active body, so do exercise and yoga daily. Yoga not only helps in maintaining good health but also helps in increasing your concentration. Do not study continuously for a long time. We advise you to take short breaks after some interval and give some rest to your mind to avoid stress and fatigue.

Best of Luck for CLAT

DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.